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Loons edge Columbus Crew in shootout to advance in Leagues Cup

andy greder, pioneer press
·4 min read

Dayne St. Clair’s trash talk challenged Xherdan Shaquiri’s manhood before a penalty kick in a Leagues Cup match in St. Paul last week. It backfired as the Chicago Fire star buried his PK, and he let St. Clair know how he felt in a fiery retort.

The Minnesota United goalkeeper took a gentler approach against the Columbus Crew in the tournament’s round of 32 on Friday. After being tied 3-3 after 90 minutes, the Loons and Crew had scored each of their first three penalty kicks. Then St. Clair went up and hugged former Loons and current Crew midfielder Kevin Molino before their one-on-one matchup.

“We were really good friends,” St. Clair explained postgame. “My dad is also from Trinidad, so when I came to Minnesota, he took me in as a bigger brother. I think just showing that love to him. … But if it could affect him mentally and show that, it was something I could do as well.”

Molino’s shot wasn’t well taken, St. Clair lunged to his left to save it, and Minnesota United went on to beat Columbus 4-3 in penalty kicks at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. Minnesota will host Mexican club Toluca in the round of 16 at Allianz Field on Tuesday. After a fourth-place finish in Liga MX last year, Toluca ran over Sporting Kansas City 4-1 on Friday.

In the final minutes of regular time in Ohio, it appeared “Superman” was going to be the Loons’ villain. Christian Ramirez had earned that nickname when he was a member of Minnesota United into 2018, and when the Columbus Crew forward scored the go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute, he mimicked opening his yellow shirt to reveal a hidden “S.”

It appeared Ramirez was going to join Mason Toye and Kei Kamara in an ensemble of ex-Loons strikers sticking it to their former team this season.

But Loons midfielder Hassani Dotson, who cleared concussion protocol late in the match, netted a surprise equalizer in stoppage time to force a penalty-kick shootout.

Ramirez scored again in PKs, but three Crew teammates had shots saved by Dayne St. Clair or missed the target. Then Micky Tapias made the winning kick from the spot for a 4-3 margin.

“Once it goes to penalties, then it’s a coin toss,” manager Adrian Heath said. “We had a little bit of fortune, but the fortune was with Dayne because Dayne made two or three big saves. Didn’t dive early and commit himself and deserved what he got.”

Molino had a few dangerous shots after subbing on in the 77th minute, including one in the final minute of stoppage time, but he couldn’t finish then either.

The Loons’ script started according to plan when they scored in the counter attack in the 17th minute. Emanuel Reynoso sent a delightful long ball to Teemu Pukki, who timed his assist to Bongi Hlongwane for a chipped finish.

The lead was given up just before halftime. Dotson’s poor pass to Reynoso was intercepted, and the Crew capitalized on their own break. Malte Amundsen beat St. Clair at the near post in the 42nd minute.

The Loons trailed 2-1 when Wil Trapp, an Ohio native and former Columbus player in his own homecoming, was beat to a ball at the top of the box by Alexandru Matan, and he ripped a shot into the net in the 51st minute.

The Loons’ deficit didn’t last long with Hlongwane getting his body on a great cross from Joseph Rosales in the 54th minute.

Hlongwane stayed white hot in Leagues Cup, scoring his fifth and sixth goals in the tournament, but he did sky his PK in the shootout. In the tournament so far, Hlongwane has scored more goals than the legendary Lionel Messi (5).

Ramirez had played against MNUFC three previous times and scored once before, but said it was still an emotional game for him.

“@MNUFC much love,” Ramirez posted on X. “(Good luck in) rest of the tourney.”

Briefly

The Loons targeted 25-year-old Canadian midfielder Liam Fraser before signing former MNUFC mid Jan Gregus on Thursday, a source told the Pioneer Press. The club had acquired right of first refusal for Fraser from Toronto FC for $50,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money, but sold it to FC Dallas for $100,000 GAM once contract negotiations with Fraser came to an impasse. … The Loons netted $175,000 in 2023 GAM from Los Angles FC in exchange for the discover priority of 21-year-old Uruguayan forward Cristian Olivera. He was announced by LAFC as an Under-22 Initiative signing and was previously with Almeria in Spain’s La Liga and before that Boston River in Uruguay.

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